Post clamp for storage batteries



k 1936- R. s. FENNELL ET AL. 2,062,409

POST CLAMP FOR STORAGE BA'ITERIIIIIS Filed Sept. 14, 1935 929 771073 $7. 4 I JMMZ I I V JWz Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES POST CLAMP FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Robert S. Fennell and Earl E. Spencer, Norwood, Ontario, Canada Application September 14, 1935, Serial No. 40,562 In Canada November 2, 1934 4 Claims.

The invention appertains to a post clamp of the class that has a slidable jaw urged into clamping engagement with a post of the battery in order to securely attach the clamp and yet enable it to be readily removed upon releasing the pressureapplying element.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved pressure-applying means for the jaw with a view to not only increasing efficiency but also to reduce manufacturing cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp with a post hole from which the body is laterally elongated in order that the pressureapplying means may be remotely disposed from p the post. Both the jaw and the body are cast from a non-corrosive metal. The jaw is moulded to a steel screw-threaded shank on which a nut is engaged and disposed between shoulders on the body for tightening the jaw against the post.

A special feature of the invention is that the body has a jaw-receiving bore upon at its top and a chamber for the shank likewise open at the top. This enables the jaw together with the shank and nut to be readily inserted and removed from the body.

Referring to the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp secured to a post of a storage battery.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the clamp which is shown on the battery post.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the clamp.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of the jaw connected to the screw rod.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In the drawing the reference numeral 1 denotes the conventional storage battery and 8 one of the two posts to which the cable 9 is connected by the clamp. The body I0 extends horizontally from the post as usual and has a vertical hole I I at one end that loosely receives the post 8, while the other end I2 has the cable 9 attached to it.

The body is cast from a non-corrosive metal and has a jaw receiving bore I3 extending longitudinally from the post hole I I and communicatmg with a lengthwise chamber I4 open at the top of the body. The body is fashioned with a pair of ears I5 at opposite sides of the chamber, presenting shoulders I6 substantially spaced from the post hole I I. An integral lug I1 is spaced from the ears to supply a nut receiving recess I8. The lug has an aperture I9'in alignment with the chamber aforesaid.

A jaw 20 is slidably disposed in the bore I3 and is preferably of a square cross section as also is 5 the bore in order to preclude relative turning of the jaw in the body. It is obvious, however, that the jaw could be of another non-circular cross section to achieve this end or other means could be substituted to prevent the jaw from turning. 1

A special feature of the bore structure is that the top wall immediately over the jaw has a lengthwise slot I3 of sufficient width to permit the shank or screw rod to pass therethrough. The slot communicates with the post hole I land with 5 the chamber I4, and leaves opposing shoulders I3 that retain the jaw in the bore.

A screw rod 2| is lodged in the chamber with an end connected to the jaw and the other end freely projecting through the lug aperture. This 20 latter end portion is threaded and a nut 22 is screwed on it and disposed between the ears I5 and the lug I! so as to be shouldered intermediate thereof. A standard lock washer 22 is fitted back of the nut to prevent it working loose 25 when tightened.

The screw rod is rigidly united to the jaw, preferably in the pouring of the mould from which the jaw is cast.

It will be understood from the preceding de- 30 scription that turning the nut in one direction will feed the screw rod towards the post to urge the jaw into engagement therewith. Turning the nut in the opposite direction withdraws the jaw clear of the post so that the clamp can be removed. 35

To insert the jaw, screw rod and nut as a unit in the body, the nut is first positioned at the extreme free end of the screw rod. This unit is dropped into the hollow body, the jaw occupying the post hole and the nut being positioned in the 40 recess I 8. By screwing the nut further on the rod, the jaw is drawn into the bore to clear the post hole.

Since the clamp body and the jaw are composed of a non-corrosive material they are not affected. 5 by the electrolyte. The remote position of the pressure-applying means keeps it clear of the harmful acid. Physical tests have demonstrated that this clamp structure is both practical and satisfactory. 50

What we claim is:

1. A post clamp comprising an elongated horizontal body having a vertical post hole at an end and a transverse lug at the other end having a hole therethrough, said body having a jaw-receiv- 55 ing bore leading ofi the post hole and a slotted wall immediately thereover leaving opposing shoulder-forming portions, the body being chambered between the bore and the lug with an open top, the portion of the chamber adjoining the lug being continued into a lateral recess forming shoulders spaced from the inner face of the lug, a jaw slidably mounted in the bore aforesaid, a screw rod rigidly united to the jaw and lodged in the chamber with an end inserted in the hole of said lug, and a nut screwed on the rod and lodged in said recess.

2. In a post clamp, a horizontal elongated body having a vertical post hole at an end thereof and a jaw-receiving bore leading oil the post hole, in which a jaw is mountable by inserting it through said post-hole, said body having walls providing a chamber in communication with said bore, a jaw removably mounted in said bore, a screw rod fast thereto and disposed in the chambered part of the body, said jaw and screw rod having an interlocking connection with the body to prevent displacement in normal operation or service, the interlocking connection including shoulders retaining the jaw in the bore, a hole in a Wall of the body in which the free end portion of the screw rod is inserted, and a nut engaged with the screw rod in advance thereof and shouldered in a transverse recess supplied by the walls of the body.

3. A post clamp in accordance with claim 2, in

which the body has a slot communicating with the jaw-receiving bore and located immediately thereover so as to enable the screw rod to be inserted and removed as a unit with the jaw.

4. In a post clamp, a horizontal elongated body having a vertical post hole at an end thereof and a jaw-receiving bore leading off the post hole, in which a jaw is mountable by inserting it through said post hole, said body having walls providing a chamber in communication with said bore, a jaw removably mounted in said bore, a screw rod fast thereto and disposed in the chambered part of the body, said jaw and screw rod having an interlocking connection with the body to prevent displacement in normal operation or service, the interlocking connection including an end wall of the body forming a transverse lug and having a hole in which the free end portion of the screw rod is inserted, a nut engaged with the screw rod in advance thereof and shouldered in a recess formed in the body walls so that the screw rod will be axially fed on turning the nut; and a slot formed in the body immediately over the bore and extending thereto, the slot being of a less width than the bore so as to leave shoulders that retain the jaw in place, the slot providing an opening through which the screw rod may be inserted and removed from the body as a unit with the jaw.

ROBERT S. FENNELL. EARL E. SPENCER. 

